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"How many women you see in this kitchen? Only me. Why do you think that is? Because high cuisine is an antiquated hierarchy built upon rules written by stupid, old men. Rules designed to make it impossible for women to enter this world, but still I'm here. How did this happen?"

"You think cooking is a cute job, eh? Like Mommy in the kitchen? Well, Mommy never had to face the dinner rush while the orders come flooding in, and every dish is different, and none are simple, and all different cooking time, but must arrive at the customer's table at the exactly the same time, hot and perfect! Every second counts and you CANNOT be MOMMY!"

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Thursday, January 20, 2011

So the Southern Green Mountains, are barely going to get out of the single digits this weekend, JOY. This week, I have seen ice, rain, sleet, freezing rain and let's not forget snow. My youngest son, has face planted himself no less than twice out of the four times, it was actually safe to be outside. There is nothing like chipping the ice off, to get into the car.

So apparently cherry Slushies cure, snow rash. This child is going to be the child that breaks a bone, I just know it. He is devoid of fear. In fact when he was 11 months old, he was jumping off the couch into the bean bag. His brother just giggling him along. This is why we had a slide lock on the INSIDE. That was all I needed, Baby Tough Guy cruising down the street, in only a diaper, face covered in cheese doodle dust, looking for a soul to steal.

Now all is well in Gould land, youngest is slurping, and the oldest is studying. High school is the big leagues. Homework every night. My oldest has a perpetual scowl, that lifts the closer to Friday we get. Both boys practice the ancient art of willing a snow day. Did you know if you sleep with a spoon under your pillow, you get a snow day? I have survived 43 years without that golden nugget. However, it backfired on Wednesday because they needed to allocate for sleet, yada, yada. Maybe that requires salad tongs?

Soup is on the menu in Antarctica, hmm I mean Vermont. It warms tired working parent bones, and if you are on a budget like us, it covers more than one meal. Cauliflower is one of those vegetables that you either like or hate. Brussels sprouts are my cauliflower. They remind me of leprechaun cabbage. You could cook the Brussels right out of them, and they still would be tough. Anyway, I digress...

Cauliflower are a cruciferous vegetable, like my favorite, Brussels sprouts. They are said to lower the risk of cancer, high in fiber and vitamin C, and can stimulate our bodies to produce enzymes that break down potential carcinogens (this is any agent directly involved in causing cancer). I never really thought about carcinogens, until I turned 40 and realized that I wasn't 25 anymore... :(

Cauliflower Cheddar soup

2 cups or more (no rules) rough chopped celery

2 cups or more rough chopped onion

6 cloves garlic, rough chopped

2 heads of cauliflower, chopped (getting rid of the hard inner core and the green parts)

5 ozs butter

5 ozs flour

2 quarts chicken stock

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese

pinch of ground nutmeg and butcher grind black pepper

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons chopped dill

1/2 tsp caraway seed

salt to taste

1 tablespoon lemon juice

In a stockpot melt the butter, saute the onions, celery, garlic and caraway seed until soft, add the flour, turn the heat to low and cook until the flour taste is gone. Add the chicken stock and simmer until everything is soft. In a food processor, or using an immersion blender blend soup until smooth, blend in heavy cream and shredded cheddar until well mixed. Season with nutmeg, salt, black pepper, lemon juice, chopped dill and Dijon mustard. Step outside~ realize how cold it is, and eat some soup!!!